Luckily, whoever broke into the store didn’t take anything from the store, 304 E. Fourth.

“They came in through a basement window,” said Lee, who volunteers at the shop. “We could not find that anything was gone. They went through the office, probably looking for money, but we don’t keep money at the thrift shop.”

The break-in occurred between 1 p.m. last Wednesday and about 7:50 a.m. Monday.

The burglar or burglars left through the same alley-side window used to enter the store, Lee said. The store was not vandalized, she said.

“I could tell in the office that they’d been through the file cabinet and been through the desk, but we haven’t found anything that is missing.”

Aerobics classes set
The Tonganoxie Recreation Commission invites everyone to get in shape for the new year by attending aerobics classes, scheduled to begin on Jan. 10.

Two class sessions will be offered. The morning class meets from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The evening class meets from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Participants can enroll early, or sign up on the first day of class. For more information, call the recreation commission at 845-3502, or community education at 845-2646.

Police still checking leads on bus vandalism
The vandalism of 14 Tonganoxie school buses last Wednesday remains under investigation, said Tonganoxie police officer John Putthoff.

“We do have some leads, and we’re looking into them,” Putthoff said.

Last week, school superintendent Richard Erickson said the damage to 30 bus tires was estimated at $5,000. Nine of the buses were parked at the junior high school, and the other five were parked at bus drivers’ residences in town and in the county.

Putthoff said the vandalism likely occurred it between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. last Wednesday.

First State Bank holds New Year’s Eve party
First State Bank & Trust invites everyone to celebrate the turn of the millennium at an open house.

Join the staff and officers of the bank from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Dec. 31, at the former Ratliff Drugstore.

All former Tonganoxie soda jerks are invited to stop by and share anecdotes. A group photo will be taken of them at 8 p.m.

Opry owner publishes book about business
Glen Smith, owner of Glen’s Opry, wrote the history of Glen’s Opry and had it published last week.

Smith started his book entitled “An Impossible Dream” in January. He spent about a month writing everything down that had happened with Glen’s Opry and double-checked for accuracy.

His daughter, Kim Smith, put the book together for him and assisted with editing. Glen Smith had 200 copies printed at Legal Printing in Tonganoxie and sold some of the books at his show last week.

In the book, Smith names people who have helped him and describes the obstacles he has faced in operating Glen’s Opry.

“I just want to give something back to the people who have helped me,” Smith said. “There are a lot of nice people who come. I just want to be able to tell them how much I appreciate it.”

Smith is selling his book, or diary as he refers to it, for $10 each. He has sold almost 50.

“It took a lot of time to put together,” Smith said. “I don’t want to put a price on it, but I would like to try and break even.”

Storyteller shares history with children
Area storyteller Milton Gray and elementary school students share the origins, principles and symbols of Kwanzaa at noon and 2 p.m. on Dec. 29, 30 and 31 at the Kansas City Museum’s fourth annual Kwanzaa Celebration.

The Museum is located at 3218 Gladstone Blvd. in the historic Northeast neighborhood of Kansas City, Mo.

An admission of $2.50 for adults and $2 for seniors and children (3-17) is requested.